Home/I confined you, but I have no ill will/ch 40

40.

Unknown shrugged and stepped back.

"Then I'll take my leave now. Until we meet again."

With that, he vaulted over the railing.

"Wait!"

Startled, Ibelin looked down—but he was gone. He hadn't seemed so physically capable, but she'd lost him. As she stared into the garden, Kite appeared through the shattered door.

"What were you doing here?"

His fierce tone made her panic, pointing downward—but Kite seemed uninterested, so she quickly explained.

"I met someone just now."

"And? Why were you dancing with him?"

"Excuse me?"

His voice was like an animal's growl.

"He said he'd tell me what I most wanted to know if I danced with him."

"So you dance with just anyone for that?"

That's not the point—you should be asking about his identity. Ibelin blinked, confused, as Kite clicked his tongue.

"Tch."

He swiftly returned to the banquet hall. Ibelin stared blankly, then followed.

She understood why he'd rushed back—before the Emperor stood a familiar merchant, bowing.

"Congratulations on Your Majesty's birthday!"

Before the words finished, Kite was back at Leonhardt's side.

"For this special occasion, I have brought a rare ceramic from the East."

Letan explained its origins while bowing repeatedly. Leonhardt looked with interest at the unusual shape—but he didn't examine it himself.

Kite descended to inspect it, prepared for an explosion—but nothing happened.

Strange.

The ceramic that should have exploded remained intact, even after being presented and handed off to attendants.

No black smoke, no dangerous shrapnel. Kite's gaze met Ibelin's.

Unknown had said it wouldn't explode. Now she was certain—he hadn't lied.

I'm not the only seer.

Realizing that, Ibelin's face went pale. The silver eyes from her prophetic dream hadn't been her imagination. Unknown was another seer. Knowing she had foreseen the ceramic's explosion, he had tampered with something else.

Her heart began to pound wildly. She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them.

"Lady Ibelin!"

Seren's voice snapped her out of it. He looked shocked.

"Are you hurt? Damn!"

Seren, who seemed unlikely to curse, let one slip before catching himself. He must have realized the hall's attention was on them. He quickly pulled her behind a pillar and asked.

"Were you injured by Lord Kite's thrown sword?"

Injured? She touched herself in confusion.

"I don't feel any pain."

"But there's blood here."

He pointed at her waist. Touching it, she saw red liquid on her white lace glove—even without smelling it, she knew.

It was blood—fresh, recently spilled. Only one person had touched her waist tonight.

Unknown.

Had he been hurt?

Where?

Questions multiplied. But that wasn't what she needed to focus on now. Ibelin removed the bloodstained glove.

"Sir Seren."

"Yes!"

"First, this isn't my blood—so calm down."

"...Then thank goodness. I was worried Lord Kite had finally lost his mind."

Wasn't he already halfway there? She held back the retort.

"How many gifts are left to present to His Majesty?"

"Quite a few still."

Given the time constraints, not many could present gifts directly—but as Emperor of a major empire, the number was still considerable.

"One of them will explode."

"Can you tell which one?"

Seren didn't ask why she was so sure.

"No—not right now."

She had never particularly liked her prophetic ability, but now she felt its limits—only seeing the future through dreams.

Did Unknown see the future the same way?

She bit her lip in frustration. Even if she fell asleep now, she couldn't guarantee a vision—prophecy always came when least expected.

For now, she could only watch Leonhardt and Kite anxiously.

Please!

She clasped her hands and prayed—if there was a god, let her see the future now. You said I'd save my benefactor!

She watched Leonhardt. The next presenter was House Lontree.

"House Lontree went all out this time."

"Such a gift—won't they be ruined?"

"Still, since they're with Duke Barkel, maybe their finances have improved?"

"After all, they're a family with good blood."

Amid the whispers, the head of House Lontree stepped forward and unveiled his gift—a beautiful jeweled necklace. Not for Leonhardt himself, but offered for the future Empress.

That's dangerous.

Just as she thought that, she realized something—Kite, who should have been behind Leonhardt, was gone.

Why?

The moment she realized it, Ibelin—

Opened her eyes.

"Hah!"

Gasping, she saw Kite's face right before her. It was the first time she'd seen him this close.

"You!"

She tried to catch her breath and assess the situation.

"His Majesty—I need to go to His Majesty!"

She squeezed out her voice urgently, but Kite continued.

"Stay still! You collapsed suddenly—I've called a physician, so don't move!"

Listening to his sharp tone, she realized he was holding her. So that was why he wasn't beside Leonhardt—he had come to her.

This was wrong! Leonhardt was more important than her. But what was done was done—she quickly told Kite what she'd seen.

"Lontree!"

The moment he heard her, Kite looked up. Only then could she see around—the hall's eyes were on her. Leonhardt was no exception.

"...Why is His Majesty here?"

Leonhardt, standing right beside Kite, shook his head.

"Why do you think?"

What had happened while she glimpsed the future? Ibelin's eyes darted in confusion. Seren, also beside her, explained.

"After you collapsed, Lord Kite brought His Majesty over."

"Brought?"

Leonhardt's eyes narrowed.

"He grabbed his only nephew and ran—so fast the wind was like a blade! He clearly cares more about his fiancée than his nephew!"

"Excuse me?"

For a moment, she doubted her ears—he had run all the way here with Leonhardt in tow because she collapsed? The distance wasn't far, but it was the attitude that mattered.

No matter how close an uncle, his nephew was still the Emperor—you couldn't just carry him like that! It was tantamount to blasphemy.

"The same man who used to stay calm whenever noble ladies fainted."

Leonhardt tapped the floor with his foot.

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